Disappointing end to Owls home campaign

Last updated : 27 April 2014 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday's final home game of the 2013/14 season was a disappointing one as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.

After leading 2-0 in their previous home game against Charlton only to lose 3-2 Stuart Gray was keen for the team to put that result behind them and sign off in style at S6. However, the defensive lapses that have been all too evident in recent matches were on display again and the visitors took full advantage.

Sluggish defending allowed Beckford to get to the byline and cross low for Danns to slot home, beating an indecisive Mattock to the ball at the back post inside 10 minutes.

Wanderers were then gifted a second goal ten minutes later when a poor pass from Mattock was seized upon by Lee who beat a flat-footed Loovens to the ball. The Bolton midfielder went through on goal and although his shot was tame Kirkland somehow allowed it to creep under him to the dismay of the home faithful.

It was 3-0 on the half hour when Lavery failed to track the run of Trotter from a throw-in and the Bolton man took full advantage by advancing forward before firing a fine dipping shot from 30 yards that gave Kirkland no chance.

Mattock gave the Owls some hope going into half-time, scoring with an unstoppable strike from a similar distance to Bolton's third but in truth a second half come back never really looked on the cards.

In fact it took a fine stop from Kirkland to deny Danns Bolton's 4th within the first 5 minutes of the restart.

The introduction of Corry for the final half an hour saw Wednesday retain possession better without breaking down the Bolton back line. Young Jack Stobbs came on for his Hillsborough debut but in truth it was a difficult came for him to come into with so many of his team mates playing below par and he failed to make an impression.

Bolton could have added more on the break as the game drew to a close and the traditional final home game lap of honour was something of a damp squib with most of the disgruntled crowd having left the stadium after a PA announcement inferred that the players would not be coming back out.

Wednesday now occupy 16th place in the Championship table and they finish their campaign at Ipswich next Saturday. An away win combined with a defeat for Leeds would see them climb one place and finish above their Yorkshire rivals but having conceded 20 goals in the last 7 matches that seems like a long shot as things stand.